Extract

Daphne, a park 9 km. (5 ½ mi.) south of *Antioch (1), at natural springs supplying the city's water. Its inviolate *temenos, with a temple of *Apollo and *Artemis, was dedicated by *Seleucus (1) I and served by priests appointed by the kings (see RC 44 = Austin, no. 175); it saw the celebrated festival and procession staged by *Antiochus (4) IV in 166 bce (CAH 82 (1989), 345). *Pompey enlarged its area, and under the Principate it seems to have been imperial property and, in the 4th cent. ce, the site of a palace. Famed for its natural beauties (the emperors protected its famous cypresses), it was a favourite and somewhat disreputable resort of the Antiochenes; in the 4th cent. a controversial festival (the Maiumas?) celebrated there was considered immoral by *Libanius (Or. 41. 16–17) and on one occasion banned. A theatre, several villas, and *mosaics have been excavated.